News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Hundreds of basketball players and their families will descend upon Sisters November 20-21 in the first of a series of winter basketball tournaments sponsored by Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) and Champion Sports Camps, LLC.
The Sisters Shootout Series, which starts this weekend, consists of five tournaments through March, featuring games between squads of players in fifth through eighth grade.
SPRD anticipates bringing in 32 to 48 teams and 1,200 to 1,500 visitors each weekend.
The series probably won't start with quite that big of a bang, as the season is just getting underway.
"November is looking a little slow, but we have to remember that a lot of these teams are just getting going," said Shalee Hanks, SPRD Sports Program Manager.
Hanks said registration indicates that about 90 percent of the teams that have participated in past tournaments will be returning. Many come over the pass from the Willamette Valley.
"We do attract all the Central Oregon teams... but we also get teams from Lake Oswego; we have a team from Coos Bay for this first tournament," Hanks said.
The teams bring an entourage of family members that enjoy a weekend stay in Sisters, eating and shopping in local stores and restaurants.
"A lot of them use this as a nice vacation," Hanks said.
The influx of visitors provides a welcome burst of economic activity in Sisters' slowest period.
Family members buy a pass that gives them discounts at participating businesses.
"We're trying to really fuse that relationship between the tournaments and the families who are shopping, eating and recreating here," Hanks said.
The amenities of Sisters Country are a draw for families, but teams like the SPRD tournaments because they are one of only two in Oregon that offer a five-game guarantee.
"What we've tried to do is give the teams from the Valley a real reason to come over," said Hanks.
Randy Burdick, of Champion Sports Camps, says that guarantee is really important, not only to the other teams but to Sisters' youth basketball program. Being isolated, Sisters players don't get as many opportunities to compete as do players from the Valley.
"They like to play as many games as they can possibly play," Burdick said. "One of our things is to get teams here so our boys and girls can play."
Champion Sports Camps is providing clock minders and score keepers as part of a fund-raising effort for Outlaws basketball.
"Our goal is to raise a net revenue of $8,000 for SPRD and another $8,000 for the Outlaws basketball program," said SPRD Executive Director Carrie Ward.
She said that goal is "absolutely realistic."
SPRD's end of the profits come from concessions, passes, gate fees, sponsorships and apparel sales. The revenue is critical to the financially struggling organization.
"Past history is that the tournaments have done very well," said Burdick. "We're looking for good things."
Burdick noted that volunteer roles are still available.
"As many volunteers as we can get makes everything work better, smoother," he said.
For more information or to volunteer, contact SPRD at 549-2091.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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